Some
of the greatest players who ever played the game left the diamond
without ever putting a World Series ring on their finger. Players
like Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr., and Barry Bonds never had the
unmitigated joy that comes with the pig pile on the mound after the
final out of the season is recorded (or in Joe Carter’s and Luis
Gonzalez’s case, after the game and series winning hit).
On
the opposite of the spectrum, there are players who won’t ever be
enshrined in Cooperstown that have a championship ring in their
trophy case. This list looks back on the unexpected players who were
ultimately forgettable that still hold one distinction over the likes
of Ty Cobb and company: They won the World Series.
Cecil
Fielder -- 1996 New York Yankees
During
the 1996 campaign, the New York Yankees made a trade with the Detroit
Tigers sending slugging DH Ruben Sierra and prospect in trade for the
two-time MVP runner up Cecil Fielder. In 53 games that season,
Fielder was an upgrade at designated hitter and saw some time at
first base. Fielder made the most of his time in the playoffs hitting
over .300 while knocking in 16 RBI’s, half of those accounted
against Baltimore in the ALCS. Fielder’s career would end three
teams and a season and a half later. But the man who brought baseball
frenzy back to Detroit in the early 90’s collected his championship
in pinstripes.
Bobby
Bonilla - 1997 Florida Marlins
These
days, Bobby Bonilla is best known for his unofficial baseball holiday. That would make it the second biggest victory he ever scored
from the game of baseball. Bonilla was apart of the 97 Florida
Marlins team that shocked the world with their victory over the
Cleveland Indians. To call Bonilla’s presence integral to the team
would be a bit of an overstatement (though he did drive in 95 runs
during the regular season). Bonilla managed an OPS over .800 during
the playoffs and hit a crucial home run in Game 7. A million dollars
every July for nearly 20 years and a World Series ring. Bobby-Bo knows
how to win at baseball.
Jose
Canseco -- 2000 Yankees
Canseco
won a ring early on his career in 1989 with fellow Bash Brother Mark
McGwire in Oakland. But Canseco’s career took a downward turn as he
became a journeyman bat for hire. One of those stops was in 2000 when
he joined the Yankees mid-season after the Rays--excuse me, Devil
Rays--passed
him off to shed his salary. Canseco’s tenure with the Yankees was
tumultuous due his clubhouse attitude and complaints of his playing
time. Still, he drove in 19 runs in 37 regular season games. He only
had one at bat in the entire 2000 playoffs; he struck out in the
World Series. But he wore pinstripes that year, and he received his
second World Series ring.
Nomar
Garciaparra -- 2004 Red Sox
The
age of Nomar in Boston heralded a rise in optimism and a dream that
he would lead the Boston to their first title since 1918. Nomar
started his career in dominating fashion winning Rookie of the Year
in 1997 and finishing 2nd in the MVP voting in 1998. But as the
century flipped, the Sox looked to improve while their star shortstop
was on the decline. In the summer of 2004 the Sox did the
unthinkable--they traded Nomar to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for
Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. Not exactly a blockbuster
haul. But it was the right call. The move shored up Boston’s shaky
defense--Mientkiewicz played errorless defense during the
playoffs--and the Red Sox reversed the curse that fall. After the
fanfare ended, the team cast a vote and declared that their former
franchise superstar should receive a ring regardless of finishing the
team in Chicago. Nomar may not have played in the Series, but he has
the mark of a champion on his finger.
Sidney
Ponson -- 2006 Cardinals
The
Pride of Noord, Aruba, the tale of Sidney Ponson has two halves. The
upstart innings horse capable of showing promise on the Baltimore
Orioles, and the overweight journeyman who specialized in spot
starting, long relief, and mop up work. Ponson had the makings of an
ace until the wheels fell off. His 12 year career consists of an ERA
over 5 and a winning percentage of .446. He found himself signing
with the Cardinals in 2006 making 13 starts for the team before being
released in July. Ponson didn’t join the pig pile after they
defeated Detroit that year, but his World Series ring arrived by mail
at his next home in Minnesota.
Eric
Gagne -- 2007 Red Sox
In
three seasons between 2002 and 2004, you could argue there was no
better closer in the game than Gagne (Yes, even better than Mariano
Rivera). In those three seasons, he posted 152 saves including a
league record 67 converted save opportunities without a blown save, and posted a combined ERA under 2.00. If he entered
the game, you know the Dodgers would finish with a win. And then the
chickens came home to roost; Gagne was named in the ominous Mitchell
Report as a proprietor of performance enhancing drugs. His cessation
of the PED’s was immediately noticeable. He spent more time on the
DL than on the mound and was eventually traded to the Rangers and
then again to the Red Sox. He was hardly a shadow of his Cy Young
award winning self. He had an ERA over 6 for the Sox, and only
appeared in 4 games in the postseason giving up 4 runs in 5 and a
third innings pitched. Still, when the Sox swept the Rockies, Gagne
got the World Series victory he never got in Los Angeles.
Matt
Stairs -- 2008 Phillies
Stairs
blazed a trail through the MLB, playing for 12 teams between his rookie debut in 1992 to his outright release in 2011. His
heyday was playing on the late 90’s pre-Moneyball era of the
Oakland A’s. Playing in a lineup surrounded by the likes of Jason
Giambi and Eric Chavez proved beneficial as he clobbered 122 homers
in parts of 5 seasons in Oakland. Stairs began his bat-for-hire era
shortly after. Lucky for him the Philadelphia Phillies made a waiver
wire trade for him in 2008. Stairs played in only 16 games serving as
predominantly a power hitting pinch hitter. He had 4 at-bats in the
08 postseason scoring one hit--a 2 run homerun against the Los
Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. And for his limited contribution that
year, he received a World Series ring during his brief stint in the
City of Brotherly Love.
Lance
Berkman -- 2011 Cardinals
Berkman
was a household name in the early 2000’s, playing 12 seasons apart
of the dreaded Killer B’s lineup of the Houston Astros featuring
Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and Derek Bell. Berkman was an RBI
machine for the ‘Stros, and the team ended up winning an NL pennant
in 2005 but lost to the whole enchilada to Ozzie Guillen’s White
Sox. With father time working against him, Berkman set out from
Houston making stops in New York, Texas, and St. Louis before hanging
up his cleats. It was in 2011 that he hit paydirt, finding the
fountain of youth to the tune of a .301 average, 31 homers, and 94
RBI’s. His numbers in the World Series were impressive, hitting
over .400 with an OPS of 1.023 and 11 runs scored. Berkman may not
have played his entire career in Houston like the other B’s, but
he’s the only one who has a World Series ring on his finger at the
backyard barbecues.
Dan
Uggla -- 2014 Giants
Uggla
began his career with promise. He finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year
voting in Miami (back when they were still the Florida Marlins) and
was an all star twice in his 6 years for the Fish. After his free
agent signing with the Atlanta Braves, Uggla’s numbers dropped
drastically. In 3 seasons in Atlanta, Uggla struggled at the plate
never hitting higher than .233 and striking out over 160 times in all
3 seasons. It was bad enough in 2014 that the Braves released him
midseason. The San Francisco Giants took a chance and signed him on
August 1st. In 4 games with the team, Uggla went hitless in 12
at-bats, and he was subsequently released. The team took down the
Royals that fall, and Dan Uggla now officially has more World Series
rings with the Giants than he had hits.
Sometimes
it pays to hang onto a fading career if it means winning it all.
We’ll see if the Cubs offer Joe Nathan (4 innings pitched) a ring,
or if Tom Gorzelanny and his 21.00 ERA (7 ER in 3 IP) will count as a
World Series contribution for the Indians.
